Did you read your February Church Leader Insights Newsletter?

Each month I send out the latest and best thinking on Church Growth, Evangelism, Leadership, Church Planting, and more – the best church leadership content I can find - designed to help you lead your church to greater health and growth.

And the best part…. It’s absolutely FREE! (click here to sign-up now).

Just in case you missed this month’s edition, here’s a sneak peek at a great article about engaging New Believers to share their new faith:

SEVEN TIPS FOR ENCOURAGING NEW BELIEVERS IN EVANGELISM

“Be an example-people are watching what you do, and they tend to pay more attention to what you do than what you say. When new believers see other believers evangelizing, it encourages them to do the same . . . Remind them that fear is normal-it is an experience that everyone deals with. The Apostle Paul even asked for prayer for boldness, something he would not have needed to ask for if he didn’t have fear.” - Read More

The Church Leader Insights Newsletter is designed to bring you the best available church leadership content each and every month – and all you have to do is check your email!

If you’re not already subscribed, you can click this link to sign up right now.

“Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, ‘Make me feel important.’ Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life.”
– Mary Kay Ash, Entrepreneur

I was flying back from Atlanta yesterday after speaking at The Velocity Conference and I had to take the underground train to my gate.  You know which one I’m talking about, right?

I admit it, I was late (gotta love Atlanta security lines – at least I avoided a pat down!). . Not much time to make my flight.

As I made it to the last step of the Escalator, I heard that sterile familiar voice:

Caution: Doors are Closing and Will Not Reopen!

I did what you would do….with shoulder bag in hand, I made a dash for it!

I made it….

….But my shoulder bag didn’t!

Nah, just kidding – I made it and so did my bag.

But I will say there were several in the already full train car who didn’t appreciate my daredevil (Super Pastor!) antics.

I made my flight but that’s not why I’m telling you this…..

I share this story because my Senior Pastors Tele-Coaching Network starts TOMORROW and I must warn you:

Caution: Doors Are Closing!

You see, now is the best time for you to join my network because now is the best time to grow your church.  Take that last step and run to apply!

Please don’t miss the almost full Tele-Coaching train (sorry, I couldn’t resist).

It only takes 10 minutes to apply online and yes, there is a monthly investment. A monthly amount similar to what I paid for my round trip flight yesterday…. but imagine what a month of personal growth and church growth coaching could do for you!

Please apply right now at:

www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/telecoaching

I’ll be standing by to process your application quickly so you can make our first call tomorrow.

Oh, and the good news about this network?  Since its done by phone and computer, neither one of us will have to travel!  That’s right, you pay ZERO travel costs for this network.

Your road-warrior friend,

Nelson

P.S. I’ve now coached over 1,000 Senior Pastors and I’d like to coach you. The average pastor who completes my network sees 30% growth in attendance and at least a 25% increase in giving. They tell me that the network investment is fully recovered six to eight months into the network.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Don’t let this door close on you and your church – apply right now at:

www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/telecoaching

“It is not good for man to be alone.”

What a powerful truth from Genesis 2 that most of us have taught to our people.

But today, Pastor, my question to you is…

• Are you trying to lead alone?
• Do you look at what’s happening in your church and wonder what (if anything) can be done to make it more effective at reaching your community and making more disciples?
• Do you quietly wish for someone you can ask the practical ministry questions you face each week?
• Do you ever think that maybe you’re just not cut out to lead a healthy, growing church?

There’s nothing more discouraging than the feeling that you’re all alone in leadership.

You’re supposed to be the one with the answers and yet, all you seem to come up with are more questions…

Well, you don’t have to lead alone any longer!

My new Senior Pastor Tele-Coaching Network begins in just TWO DAYS (this Thursday) and I want to help you.

There are only a few spots left and you’ll need to Apply ASAP, but if you feel like you’re leading alone, this network can help.

Each month, we’ll “meet” for a coaching call where I’ll walk you through each of the eight systems in your church – and how you can evaluate and improve them all.

Between those calls, we’ll have Q and A calls, where you call in and ask your “specific to your church” questions.

And throughout the 12-month network, you have unlimited email access to me and my team – for whatever you’re facing in your church.

This coaching process has helped over 1,000 pastors to break out of the rut of leading alone.

It’s one of the reasons that there are so many repeat participants in my networks.

In fact, John Newland, Coaching Alum and Senior Pastor of Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN, shared this about his experience in multiple networks:

Thanks for sharing John.

You’re almost out of time to apply for this new Tele-Coaching Network for Senior Pastors (it starts THIS Thursday)!

To read more and Apply Now, here’s the link:

www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/telecoaching

How many times have you heard someone (maybe even yourself) repeat the old saying “experience is the best teacher?”

And it seems like it should be true – the more we do something, the better we should get at it….

But the truth is, experience alone is a pretty bad teacher.

In fact, experience alone doesn’t make you better.  I just makes you, well… older (ha!).

No, the best teacher is “evaluated experience.”

In other words, just doing something over and over again doesn’t make you better unless you take the time to carefully evaluate, observe, take note, and make changes to how you’ve been doing things.

Never is this more true than in church leadership.

I meet a lot of pastors who think that they’re going to become a better leader or a better communicator simply by doing those things repeatedly for years.

Yet they never (or almost never) take the time to push away from the day to day routine and process the lessons that their experience is serving up for them.

That’s one of the biggest points of positive feedback from the pastors in my Senior Pastor Tele-Coaching Networks – that they grow tremendously by having a monthly process, built-in to their calendar, where they can “get on the balcony” and see what’s really going on in their church.

And only after that carefully evaluated experience are they able to chart a course to grow themselves AND their church!

Here’s what Tim Ennis, Coaching Alum and Senior Pastor of The Heights Church in Houston, Texas area, had to say about how the network has helped him and his church:

Thank you for being a part of the network Tim – keep up the good work!

Pastor – if you’re ready to grow your leadership and your church more in the next year than ever before, I want to help you.

My new Tele-Coaching Network for Senior Pastors begins THIS THURSDAY and I only have a handful of spots left.

The network is a twelve-month process where I’ll come beside you, teach you, and help you implement the changes you and your church need to grow.

You can read more and Apply Now at this link:

www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/telecoaching

In all my years of ministry experience (over 20 years now), I have met more pastors than I can begin to count.

And I’ve never once had a pastor come up to me and say:

“Nelson, my church isn’t growing and I don’t care.”

No, they’re all serious about God’s calling on their life, serious about reaching more people for Christ, and serious about making more disciples for God’s glory.

Yet this weekend, there are thousands of pastors who are discouraged, disheartened, disappointed, even disillusioned because the churches they’re leading are headed in the wrong direction.

Sometimes, these pastors simply need a little help – just some practical training or some fresh eyes to help them see the changes that need to be made to improve their church’s effectiveness.

That’s one of the reasons I founded Church Leader Insights (CLI): to provide resources and tools to help pastors maximize their leadership.  And we’ve got dozens of practical training resources available in the CLI Store.

But most of the time, the piece that’s missing in the growth and development of a pastor (and the subsequent church growth) is:

Accountability

That’s right – a lot of pastors have what the Apostle Paul called “the desire to do what is good,” but often don’t have any mechanism in place to help them follow through on that desire.

And that is why I keep leading Coaching Networks.

In coaching over 1,000 Senior Pastors, I’ve found that the structure and support system that a Coaching provides is just the catalyst most pastors need to accelerate their learning and (more importantly) their implementation of the changes they know their churches need.

I’ve got a brand new Tele-Coaching Network for Senior Pastors starting up THIS THURSDAY, February 24 at 11:00am Eastern Time, and if you can relate to what I’ve shared in this post I want to invite you to apply.

The network is over 95% full, but I’ve got a few spots left.

Here’s what Bob Weber, Coaching Alum and Senior Pastor of Camden (AL) Baptist Church, had to say about his experience in the network:

Thanks for sharing Bob – and keep up the great work!

So how about you? Don’t let yourself become the “lid” on your church’s potential for growth.

Apply Now for my new Senior Pastor Tele-Coaching Network – it begins THIS THURSDAY.

To Apply Now in less than 10 minutes, click here:

www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/telecoaching

In coaching over 1,000 Senior Pastors over the last few years (and interacting with tens of thousands more), I’ve observed a number of major misconceptions that hold back pastors and the churches they lead from reaching their full redemptive potential.

And perhaps the most limiting of these misconceptions is the illusion of a lack of control.

The average pastor in America – as much as it pains me to write this – doesn’t feel like his leadership makes much of a difference.

Whether it’s a rigid church structure, a fear of losing his job, or even just the perception that he doesn’t have enough credibility, many pastors effectively throw up their arms and resolve themselves that this is “just the way it is” when it comes to their church.

And the consequences of this attitude can (at least in part) be seen in the thousands of stagnant, declining, and dying churches scattered throughout the country…

Not to mention the hundreds of pastors who walk away from the ministry disillusioned each year.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Pastor, your leadership matters!

• Maybe you can’t change everything, but you can change some things.
• Maybe you can’t change the style of worship, but you can change the way you plan and prepare for your services.
• Maybe you don’t have authority to make all the financial decisions, but you can preach on stewardship and make incremental changes (like new offering envelopes and improved follow-up).
• And so on…

Don’t fall into the trap that you’re helpless to lead your church to greater growth and health!

Here’s a quick video from Eric Norris, Coaching Alum and Lead Pastor of Real Life Church in Manhattan, Kansas.

He shares some of the changes that he’s been able to implement at his church:

Will you let me help you learn to lead your church at a higher level?

My next Senior Pastor Tele-Coaching Network begins ONE WEEK FROM TODAY and I’ve got a few spots left.

I’ve seen tremendous results in churches of all sizes, from all denominations and from all different locations (cities/suburbs/rural areas/etc.), so I feel confident that the network will help you too.

To read more and to Apply Now (takes less than 10 minutes), click the link below:

www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/telecoaching

I’ve been focusing on Church Planting here on the blog in recent days, so I thought I’d share another concept today that’s important when you’re starting new church from scratch.

Here’s the concept: Be mindful of who you’re listening to.

As a church planter (especially in the pre-Launch process) it’s easy to get caught up in chasing to the latest fads, the most intriguing conference speakers’ advice or even the cumulative thoughts of your local pastors gathering.

And there’s wisdom in the counsel of many… to a point.

But you must decide early on to listen, first and foremost, to God’s calling for you and your new church.

Soon thereafter, you want to try and find one or two voices that you can connect with and that provide the godly wisdom that every church planter needs.

And here’s why: Too many planters I speak with are trying to concoct just the right mix of this planter and that planter, when they should be building on solid, proven principles and allowing God to use them for the unique church He wants to plant through them.

Listen to, read from, meet with everyone you can, but be wise in discerning what is sound, godly advice.

And don’t get so caught up in chasing someone else’s story that you miss out on the story God is writing through you.

Below is a quick video from Chris Goeppner, one of my Senior Pastor Tele-Coaching Alumni and Lead Pastor of Riverbank Church in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Chris is a good example of this concept – building on solid principles and letting God shape the future of your new church:

Thanks for the kind words Chris – and keep up the great work in New England!

How about you Church Planter?  Who are you listening to?

My new Tele-Coaching Network for Senior Pastors begins in just 8 Days – NEXT THURSDAY – and I would appreciate the opportunity to help you and your new church reach as many people as possible for the Kingdom.

This twelve month coaching process has been honed and refined as I’ve coached over 1,000 Senior Pastors (many of them church planters).

This network is over 85% full already, but I still have room for a few more if you get your application in soon.

The network begins NEXT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, so don’t delay.

Read more and Apply Now here:

http://www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/telecoaching

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in church planting, it’s to expect the unexpected.

It seems like the spiritual warfare is always a little more intense when it comes to the birth of a new church.

This past Sunday was no exception – we were launching The Journey Church in Boca Raton (click here for details).

About a half-hour from our Grand Opening service (and with people already waiting in the lobby to worship), our sound board blew up.

It just completely quit working.  No early indications, no warning signs – it just quit.

So I did the only thing I know to do when it comes to fixing sound boards…. I PRAYED!

And I sent out a few text messages asking others to pray as well.

Thankfully, one of our sound techs was prepared with a nice 80′s-era 8-channel mixer, which ran our entire setup for over 550 people (with a few slight adjustments).

The service even started on time!

If you’re planting a church or trying to do anything else to push back the darkness and expand God’s Kingdom, be prepared for expect a little spiritual warfare along the way…

You may have heard me say this before, but one of my early ministry mentors told me once, “If you go too long without meeting the devil head-on, you might be heading in the same direction!”

Thank God that He is greater than anything the enemy can throw at us.

Nelson

P.S. If you’re a church planter, I’d like to give you over $149.00 in FREE Church Planting Resources – to download yours now, CLICK HERE.